Despite a strong performance from Kyrie Irving, who scored a season-high 27 points on Monday, the Nets let Monday’s game in Cleveland get away in the final minutes, as Brooklyn went cold from the field at a crucial time.
Down 105-102, James Harden drew a shooting foul on a three and hit all three shots from the line to tie the game, but from there the Nets went cold from the field. LaMarcus Aldridge missed a key layup opportunity and then missed again after grabbing an offensive rebound, and Irving missed a layup attempt on the Nets’ next possession.
Harden created an open look for Kessler Edwards that would have tied the game, but Edwards missed, and Evan Mobley got in position for an uncontested transition dunk at the other end to push the Cavs’ lead to five. The Nets had one final chance with 20 seconds remaining, but Lauri Markkanen closed down Harden beyond the arc, and Harden’s wayward pass to Irving went off the guard’s hands, allowing Isaac Okoro to steal and rush down the floor for a game-sealing dunk.
James Harden appeared to suffer a lower body injury, but remained in the game and said afterward that he “should be good.”